AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED Lens

Nikon's AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 G IF-ED lens covers a 5x zoom range and provides a suite of convenient focal length settings for owners of the company's D3 and D700 cameras but is also usable on DX models where the 1.5x crop factor gives it an equivalent focal length range of 36-180mm. Its affordable price tag makes it attractive to amateur photographers.

The first Nikon wide-angle zoom lens with Vibration Reduction (VR) technology, it claims to be able to support hand-held shooting at up to three f-stops slower at the 120mm focal length than you would otherwise obtain. The VR system relies on two gyro sensors to measure the speed and angle of camera movement. This information is used to compensate by shifting a group of lens elements.

Constructed from 15 elements arranged in 13 groups this lens includes two aspherical elements to reduce rectilinear distortion and two Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements to counteract chromatic aberration. Internal Focus (IF) mechanisms provide smooth focusing and make it easy to use angle-critical filters, such as polarisers and graduates. The lens comes with an HB-25 lens hood.
Focusing efficiency is also improved by Nikon's Silent Wave Motor (SWM) technology and the rounded iris diaphragm ensures out-of-focus elements in shots appear natural-looking and attractive. The G-type designation indicates this lens is designed for exclusive use with Nikon SLR models where the lens aperture is controlled from the camera body. The D-type design allows the lens to provide precise distance information for flash and ambient light exposure processes.

Margaret Brown

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